16 Pics That Showcase Nature Taking Over Lost Civilization

We humans like to think of ourselves as masters of the planet, bending nature to suit our needs. We build roads, carve out neighborhoods, and raise cities from the ground up. But in reality, our presence is fleeting.

Given enough time, the earth erases our footprints, brick by brick, vine by vine. Abandoned buildings crumble as trees push through concrete, and rusted cars become part of the landscape. These stunning images capture the quiet, unstoppable force of nature taking back what was hers all along.

16 PHOTOS

#1 Captured By Nature, Republic Of Karelia, Russia

#2 Abandoned Hotel Taken Over By Plants

People may not last forever, but at least they can capture nature taking over what’s left behind. Bored Panda reached out to urban photographers Greg Abandoned and Jeroen Taal to learn what goes into documenting these moments. And apparently, all it takes is a burning curiosity and the courage to explore.

#3 Spiral Staircase (Abandoned Castle)

#4 Nature Can Do Anything

Both photographers have been pursuing their passion for almost a decade. “I started photographing abandoned places around 2017, though I would say it was 2018 when it clicked for me,” Greg tells Pictolic. “What first drew me to this hobby was a trip to Chornobyl. A two-day visit completely changed my perspective. It was like discovering a whole new world, one that I instantly fell in love with.”

“The aesthetic of abandoned spaces, the stories they carry, and the eerie beauty of nature reclaiming them—it felt like a child opening a Christmas gift,” he says. “That trip ignited my passion for urban exploration, and ever since, I’ve been on a mission to find more places like it.”

#5 This Majestic Abandoned Castle Grandval Is Located Somewhere In The French Countryside

#6 Reclaimed Train Tracks In Olympia, Wa. This Time With Flowers

#7 Where Was Once A House In The Adirondack Mountains

Jeroen has been traveling to abandoned locations and capturing them since 2016. “What drew me to this type of photography is the fascinating interplay between human-made structures and nature’s persistent force to reclaim these spaces,” he says. “Something is captivating about documenting these forgotten places, where architecture and nature create a unique harmony. Each abandoned location tells its own story of the past while showcasing nature's remarkable ability to adapt and thrive.”

#8 Abandoned Church

#9 Abandoned Beauty

#10 Bridge And A Pine Tree

#11 Lost World

#12 Abandoned Church In The Woods

#13 Scola Tower, Liguria, Italy

#14 La Vacanza Perfetta

#15 The Wall Of Nine Windows

is part of the structure of an abandoned 17th-century aqueduct system near Sete Cidades on São Miquel Island in the Azores

#16 Abandoned Gothic Chapel In Portugal